Looker
The Astronaut's Review
Expert analysis by The Software Astronaut
Astronaut's Score
The Verdict
The modern BI platform that brings data modeling and exploration to the cloud.
Our Take
Looker (now part of Google Cloud) offers a unique approach with LookML for consistent data modeling. It is popular with data teams wanting governed, self-service analytics.
Where It Fits
- Data teams wanting governed analytics
- Organizations with complex data models
- Google Cloud users
- Teams valuing consistent metrics
Where It Falls Short
- Small businesses
- Teams wanting simple drag-and-drop BI
- Budget-conscious organizations
Rating Breakdown
In-Depth Analysis
Overview
Looker is a business intelligence platform acquired by Google Cloud. Its unique LookML modeling layer ensures consistent metrics across the organization.
Ease of Use
Looker requires LookML knowledge for setup, which needs developer involvement. Once configured, business users can explore data easily. The learning curve is significant.
Key Strengths
- LookML for consistent data modeling
- Governed self-service analytics
- Embedded analytics capabilities
- Google Cloud integration
- API-first architecture
- Version control for models
Limitations to Consider
- Requires developer for setup
- Expensive
- Complex for simple needs
- Visualization less polished than Tableau
Pricing Analysis
Custom enterprise pricing. Typically $3,000-5,000/month starting.
Final Thoughts
Looker is excellent for organizations wanting governed, consistent analytics. The LookML approach is powerful but requires investment. Simpler needs suit Tableau or Metabase.
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Popular Integrations
Looker works seamlessly with these popular tools to enhance your workflow.
Note: Integration availability may vary based on your subscription plan. Visit the official Looker website or check our individual product pages for the most up-to-date integration information.
About Looker
Business intelligence platform
Key Features
Feature Availability
| Feature | Looker |
|---|---|
Cloud-Based Accessible from any device with internet | |
Mobile App Native mobile applications available | Partial |
API Access Programmatic access for integrations | Partial |
Free Trial Try before you buy | |
Free Tier Permanently free plan available | |
24/7 Support Round-the-clock customer assistance | Partial |
SSO/SAML Enterprise single sign-on | Partial |
Data Export Export your data anytime | |
Integrations Connect with other tools | |
Custom Branding White-label capabilities | Partial |
Pricing Overview
Contact for pricing
Integration & API
- API Supported
- Yes
- API Auth Methods
- OAuth2
- API Protocols
- REST
- Native Integrations
- Google CloudSalesforceSnowflake
- Marketplace
- Yes
- Zapier
- No
Security & Compliance
- Certifications
- SOC 2ISO 27001FedRAMP
- Encryption
- AES-256TLS 1.2
- Compliance
- GDPRHIPAA
- Uptime SLA
- 99.9%
Customization
- Custom Objects
- Yes
- Custom Fields
- Yes
- Custom Workflows
- Yes
- Custom Reports
- Yes
- Custom Branding
- Yes
- Coding Capability
- Yes
Mobile
- Mobile App
- Yes
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Mobile Pricing
- Included
Delivery & Infrastructure
- Deployment Type
- Public Cloud
- Browsers
- ChromeFirefoxSafariEdge
- Data Centers
- Global
- Languages
- EnglishJapaneseGermanFrench
Pricing & Licensing
- Contract Duration
- MonthlyAnnual
- License Mix
- Yes
- Trial Days
- 14 days
- Currency
- USD
Support
- Channels
- EmailPhoneChatHelp Center
- Hours
- 24/7
- Dedicated Manager
- Yes
- Training
- Yes